VOLLEYBALL TAKES DOWN SAINT LAWRENCE AND MIT

CAMBRIDGE MA - The University of Massachusetts Boston volleyball team hit .252 to defeat Saint Lawrence, 25-27, 25-19, 25-10, 25-19, and registered a .354 hitting percentage in a comeback win over host MIT, 25-20, 19-25, 13-25, 25-14, 25-8, in a quad tournament today on the campus of MIT in Cambridge, MA.

The Beacons, who are ranked third in the latest NCAA Division III New England Women's Volleyball Association Poll, defeated MIT for the first time in school history after three defeats and improve to 21-4 on the season with their eighth straight win and 21 of their last 23. Saint Lawrence falls to 19-4, while MIT, which is ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III NEWVA Poll, is now 20-5 on the year.

UMass Boston senior outside hitter Kate McWhorter (Bakersfield, CA), who was named the All-Tournament Most Valuable Player, spiked for 13 kills and added 10 digs and an ace vs. Saint Lawrence, while classmate Kate White (Plymouth, MA), who was named to the All-Tournament Team, put down 10 kills on a .421 hitting mark to go with a dig and a block assist. Freshman middle hitter Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, CA) registered 10 kills, 14 digs, four aces and two total blocks, while sophomore middle hitter Molly Rattigan (Dorchester, MA) hit .500 for the match with seven kills and added two block solos and four block assists to make her the Beacons' career leader in block assists with 91. Sophomore setter Cassy Hanneman (Denver, CO) directed the offense with 35 assists in addition to two kills in as many attempts, six digs, an ace and two total blocks, while freshman libero Bethany Rossoll (Colorado Springs, CO) anchored the defense with 17 digs to go with two aces.

McWhorter posted an impressive .438 hitting percentage with a team-high 16 kills to go with 16 digs for her 12th double-double of the season in UMass Boston's win over MIT. Thompson contributed with 14 kills on a .417 hitting mark, while firing a career-high seven aces and added four block assists and 15 digs for her seventh double-double of the year. White continued her outstanding hitting with 14 kills and a .385 hitting percentage and Hanneman recorded a career-best 55 assists in addition to three kills, two aces and three digs. Rattigan added three more block assists to her school-record total and two more solos, while Rossoll got down for 24 digs and served up an ace. Senior defensive specialist Jennifer Wong (Fremont, CA) also chipped in with a personal-high eight digs and scored with a pair of aces.

The Beacons will be in action again on Thursday, October 22 when they host Roger Williams University at 6:00 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center, while Saint Lawrence hosts Potsdam State on October 20 at 7:00 p.m. and MIT hosts Babson College the same night at 7:00 p.m.